Preview: Wild at Stars

March 29, 2013|Reuters

Winners of seven straight games, the Minnesota Wild return to Dallas - where they won 7-4 on Monday - to try for a season sweep of the Stars on Friday. Minnesota also defeated Dallas 1-0 at home on Jan. 20 but has never swept a season series from the Stars. Mondayâs victory snapped a 16-game winless streak (0-11-5) in Dallas for the Wild - one that lasted over 10 years. Itâs been that kind of month for Minnesota, which is outscoring opponents 31-17 on its winning streak. Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom is 10-2-0 in March and has started every game of the streak.

The Stars are 2-3-1 in their last six home games and were overwhelmed by Minnesota on Monday after holding early leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. Dallas has been outshot in each of its last four games and five of its last six, creating more work for Kari Lehtonen, who has started every game this month. Lehtonenâs heavy workload is due to a lack of confidence in backup netminders Jack Campbell, who was sent back to the AHL this week, and Richard Bachman, who was recalled but has allowed at least four goals in four of his last five NHL appearances.

ABOUT THE WILD (20-10-2): Captain Mikko Koivu is leading the way with 16 points this month, including eight during a five-game streak. Zach Parise has notched six points during his four-game streak, while Devin Setoguchi has scored eight of his 11 goals this month. Goaltender Josh Harding, who was in net for the early-season shutout of the Stars, has not played since Feb. 7 due to complications treating his multiple sclerosis but was back on the ice before the team left for Dallas. If healthy, Harding could get a start in one of Minnesotaâs next two road games. The Wild are 5-for-21 with the man advantage on their winning streak.

ABOUT THE STARS (15-14-3): Mondayâs loss was the Starsâ first game without former captain Brenden Morrow, who played 835 games with Dallas - fifth-most in franchise history - over 13 seasons. With Morrow gone, the Stars will lean heavily on veterans Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney for leadership. Jagr leads the team with 11 points this month and has a goal in each of the last four games of his seven-point streak. Whitney have seven points in eight games since returning from an upper-body injury. Defenseman Alex Goligoski scored his first goal on Monday to extend his point-streak to four games.

OVERTIME

1. Minnesotaâs longest winning streak was a nine-game run in March 2007.

2. Parise has three goals and an assist in the two previous games against Dallas and 16 points in 11 career meetings with the Stars.

3. The Stars will play on Sunday against Los Angeles and Monday versus Anaheim to close out a five-game homestand.